Piano-case.



UNITED STATES Patented Maren 14, 1905.

MARK F. RICHARDSON, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

PIANO-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,631, dated March14, 1905.

Application filed December 14, 1904. Serial No. 236,828.

To It wimnt 111; may concern:

Be it known thatI, MARK F. RICHARDSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Piano-Case, of which the following is aspecilication:

This invention relates to piano-cases, and has for its principal objectto provide novel means for holding the front frame of the case outwardin position to form an inclined rest for music.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved constructionwherein the top frame may be opened by a very slight pull and will befirmly held in open position when used as a music-rest. When not in use,the frame or panel may be replaced in closed position by slight pressureand retained by a friction-clasp.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafterappear, the invention consists in certain novel features of constructionand arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appendedclaim, it being understood that various changes in the form,proportions, size, and minor details of the structu re may be madewithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantagesof the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse sectionalelevation of the upper front portion of a piano-casing provided with afront frame or panel constructed in accordance with the invention, thepanel being shown in closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar view of thepanel in open position. Fig. 3 is adetail perspective View of theoperating mechanism employed for holding the panel open. Fig. 1 is asimilar view of the supportingbracket for the panel-operating arm.

Similar characters of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

1n upright pianos the upper front panel, generally known as the front ortop frame, is usually hinged or pivoted in such manner that its lowerend may be moved outward to form an inclined rest for music, and variousdevices have been employed for retaining the panel in its open position.

The panel A is provided at points adjacent to one or both ends with arecess 10, in which is arranged a pin or yoke 11, formed of any suitablematerial, and when the panel is moved to closed position this pin ridesover the top of a small spring-arm 12, which by frictional engagementwith the pin will hold the panel closed, although a very slight pullwill be sufficient to disengage said pin.

To a suitable portion of the piano-casing as, for instance, thecross-bar Bis secured a bracket 13, which may be formed of sheet metal,having a pair of parallel pivot-ears l4 and a small flange 15. Thepivot-ears are provided with openings for the passage of a pin 16, onwhich is mounted an arm 17, the upper or forward end of which isarranged on a curved line, as illustrated at 18, and serves as a cam forengagement with the rear face of the panel A, a strip of felt or similarmaterial, such as 19, being preferably placed on the panel to preventwear and render the device noiseless.

On the pivot-pin is arranged the coils of a torsion-spring 20, thecentral portion of the spring passing up over an arm 17 and its oppositeends bearing against the base of the bracket 13. This spring tendsnormally to throw the arm from the position shown in Fig. 1 to thatillustrated in Fig. 2.

1n the operation of the device, the parts being in the position shown inFig. 1, a slight outward pull at thelower portion of the panel willrelease the pin 11 from the spring-clasp 12, and the torsion-spring 20will thereupon force the arm 17 from the position shown in Fig. 1 tothat shown in Fig. 2, causing the rounded surface 18 of the arm to actas a cam on the rear face of the panel and force said panel outward tothe inclined position shown in Fig. 2, at which point it will be heldand form an inclined rest for music. When the arm has reached its fulloutward position, as shown in Fig. 2, the lower edge of said arm willengage the top of the flange 15, so that there will be no danger of thearm moving to such an extent as to form a rigid brace that will preventmovement of the table to its closed position.

\Vhen it is desired to restore the panel to closed position, slightpressure on the lower portion of the panel will cause the arm to rideupward on the strip 19 until the panel is closed and the pin 11 is againengaged with the clasp 12, and the panel will be held closed until againpulled outward.

The device is of the most simple construction and may be readily appliedto existing pianos Without any change in their structure, and one ormore may be employed in connection with each piano.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is The combinationwith a piano-case having MARK F. RICHARDSON Witnesses:

DUNCAN STEWART, VVILLIAM L. BYRNES.

